By Andrew Phiri

Balaka, November 28, Mana: Business operators in Balaka District Thursday hailed the Digital Financial Services (DFS) awareness campaign for promoting the use of electronic payments (e-payment) when conducting trade.

Implemented by the Ministry of Finance in partnership with the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) and AC Consulting, DFS seeks to raise knowledge among the people especially rural masses on the benefits of using electronic transactions via mobile phones, banks, and other modern platforms.

A shop owner at Phalula Trading Center, Fanny John said electronic transactions are more secure and fast because there is no involvement of cash when trading.

"Through Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba, we make more sales because our customers would transact the money anywhere and anytime. Moreover, when we have generated more cash during the day, we usually send it to the phone for security purposes," she said.

An agent of Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba, Innocent Mulanje from Kwitanda area said he was well aware of e-payment and urged others to embrace it citing that the world is going digital.

He said: "We have been encouraged by seeing you coming here to create more awareness on the use of electronic transactions"

However, Mulanje cited challenges of electronic transactions such as intermittent networks and fraudsters hence urging the network service providers to update their systems.

AC Consulting Field Supervisor for Balaka DFS, Bernadette Maele commended the people of Balaka for their positive mindset towards the campaign saying the major goal of the programme is for communities to embrace modern transactions.

She therefore emphasized that the campaign will reach the whole district through markets, Village Savings Loans Groups (VSLGs), and other social gatherings.

Phase four of the DFS awareness campaign will run in Balaka for 20 days and the previous phases have been implemented in other districts like Thyolo, Mangochi, Ntcheu, and Mwanza with the target of reaching the whole country.